The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-12-14
SEEING THE CAR.
A LIVING, MOVING ILLUSTRATION OF
THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.

The RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.
A Grand PyroteChnio Display on the
ozarina's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Soldiers
and acknowledging of the Secret
Service Chief-Tho CossacIx's Hand.
A few nights ago 1 attended the illumina.
tions at Peterhoff in honor of the czarina's
birthday. The cars palace is on a PENN.
sula, and the grounds and buildings occupy
almost mile square--the most superb struc-
lures, fountains, and miles Of tho finest park.
ing and drives in the world. Scores Of build
ings and fountains, hundreds Of trees and
great crowns, crosses and figures, besides
miles of high walls were covered with col
ored lamps. There were millions Of lights
and it required regiment of soldiers and
hundreds of civilians weeks to put them il
place. All was paid for from the public
treasury, or rather the czar's treasury, re
pleted by the people.
AT time in the evening when the fount
aims and lights glistened most, the bands
played loudest, and the pyrotechnics and can.
non from the men-of-war in the gulf glared
and roared best, the royal family gave the
assembled multitude arare treat. 1t showed
itself. Seldom it is that people in Russia see
their emperor, their czar, because he suspects
them of designs
was making my way between two of the
great blazing walls Of colored lights, through
one OF the drives, when detachment Of Cos
sacks came dashing along, slashing their
sabers and driving the people out of the way.
In their wake came soldiers on foot, and great
detachments Of men in citizens clothing. The
toft A..
lines Of the masses A din of voices-lusty
cheering is heard in the distance. Il comes
nearer, thcn nearer. More Cossacks more
soldiers, more men in citizens clothing, and
further back we are crowded The tier Of
officious citizens is re-enforced In our front,
and many lingcr in the driveway. Finally
the caravan comes in view, More Cossaclrs,
soldiers, citizens. Eight white horses, each
one on the left bearing liveryman arc next
seen; then the royal equipage, an immense,
gold mounted chariot. The car, a great
burly fellow with full beard, crown and uni
form, is on the left seat In front. The
brother, the crown prince, the czarina, and
grand dukes, etc., make up the load. On
every hand of the carriage, four deep, are
Cossncls, while the driveway In front and
rear is blocked with soldiery, making per-
feet shield against violent attack
WHO THE "cIrIzENs' WERE.
The ''citizensn who were SO very plentiful
and officious were the most experienced de-
tectiyes and body guards in the empire.
There were thousands of them. IL would
have been impossible for ono to raise his or
her hand against the car or any member Of
his family It is tho boast OF the Russian
authorities that their detectives have eyes in
4 4.
whole service of protecting the crown and
members Of the family, and suppressing all
thoughts of dissatisfaction with the present
form Of government, is In full ehapge of
Grosser, chief Of the secret serriees Tho
authority Of this officer is appalling. Heea
order into exile or the execution yard any
one suspected of unlawful or disrespectful
acts or intentions. He attends the theatres,
and may be said to run all places Of amuse-
ment. If he is displeased with anything he
suppresses 1t, and there is no redress.
There are some acts of Gresser which are
commendahlo. He permits no unnecessary
exposure to fire, no loss of water, no beggary.
Recently he was at the Garden theatre,
where the Usual performance takes place on
a stage, and people enjoy tho refreshments at
hand. Ono Of tho walters at table made an
insulting observation to lady. The matter
was reported to Gresser, who on the spot
closed the theatre and garden and kept them
closed for SIX weeks, although the daily and
nightly profits exceeded 1000 roubles. There
was no appeal from the verbal order. The
license Of other officers Is quito as great
That Of the Cossacks is astonishing.
In the streets OF st. Petersburg, Moscow,
and other cities in Russia the stranger is at
tracted by squads of murderous looking
mounted soldiers. They are reared and live
on horseback, and are expert horsemen. They
wear SLOUGH caps, loose coats, with belts, top
boots, great, jingling spurs, broad sabers,
and In their holsters arc heavy pistols
Swung across their backs are carbines, In
Astrakhnn or other cases. They carry tho
ancient battle ak, attached to fifteen foot
staff, swinging it from socket at the foot
rest. All ride rapidly, are swarthy and
rough looking, and look more like war and
bloodshed than anybody or anything else
These are the famous Russian Cossacks, the
defenders Of the empire since it was estab-
lished.
THE HAND OF THE CossACK.
Throughout the history of Russia the reader
sees the hand of the Cossack. He was first
and last in battle. When Napoleon, In 1872,
after taking Moscow and leaving his shat
tered army freezing and starving in the
dead Of winter to struggle back TO France,
started on his memorable run to Paris,
the Cossaclss pursued the fleeing forces and
made mince meat of them. While the
French soldiers werc freezing in a tempera-
ture 80 degs. below zero and filling up tho
volga and other streams they attempted to
ford, the CossaclLs with ease fayed the enemy,
one Cossack being equal to twenty French
soldiers. The Cossaclls of old won local re-
nown that is held sacred; but be has degen-
Grated.
Now the Cossacl Is plunderer He is
furnished with horse, arms and ammuni-
ton, and gets rations when in camp, but
must forage when on the march, which is
nearly always, and has no pay. But, for a
natural pillager, he gets something better
than pay He has complete immunity from
punishment for any crime other than tiisloy-
atty and wanton murder. The government
makes him q licensed plunderer and tells him
to forage" He becomes brigand, and no
secret Is made OF It. Peasants and villages
are robbed by these soldiers, travellers gar
rotcd, and nothing is said or done about ii.
The CossaclS Is privileged character.
And so much like the ideal Of the car Is
guard. At Peterhoff, and wherever the car
Is, there one finds about q regiment Of Cos
sacks, riding like mad, committing depreda-
tions and acting the ruffians they are They
are the best living, moving illustration one
sees in all Russia Of the character Of tho
government and its ruler-Cor New York